Book Tattoo
Full back tattoo with a tall ship banner above a snarling panther head framed by crossed daggers

Traditional Ship and Panther

Anchored this large-scale piece with a tall ship inside a draped banner up top, a snarling panther head dead centre, and crossed daggers and dragons running down the flanks. I framed the perimeter with border ornaments so each element got its own panel rather than everything blurring into one mass. Classic American traditional, scaled up to fit the canvas.

A composition this dense needs surface area to let each motif breathe. I plan large traditional projects in stages, sitting with the client to settle the layout before the first line, then breaking the work across multiple sittings so the skin gets to recover. If you've got a project of this scale in mind, get in touch at my Wellington studio.

Book Similar PieceSee All Traditional

By Rhys Thomas at Whitetail Tattoo, Level 3, 41–47 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand

Similar Tattoos

See All
Shaded traditional spiderweb centred on the point of the elbow with a scrollwork border and eagle above
Black traditional eagle tattoo with spread wings with stars
Snarling lion head tattooed on one and a tiger head on the other, both in traditional black
Black and grey traditional eagle perched above a girl head

Common Questions About Traditional in Wellington

What's the difference between traditional and neo-traditional?
Traditional keeps to a small, classical colour palette (reds, yellows, greens, blues) with chunky outlines and limited shading. Neo-traditional opens that up with more colours, finer detail, and more painterly shading. Same bones, more flexibility.
Do traditional tattoos cost less because they look simpler?
No. Traditional tattoos look deceptively simple. Clean bold lines and solid colour packs are hard to execute well, and they're priced on time and skill required, not visual complexity.
Can a traditional design be personal rather than generic?
Yes. Most of my traditional pieces are custom subjects rendered in the traditional language. Bring your own meaning and I'll handle the visual grammar.